Fork

ABSTRACT

A fork is disclosed. The fork includes one or more tines. The tines may extend in multiple directions that cross each other or that follow a curved path.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional application 61/490,188 filed on Feb. 14, 2014, which application is incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. The Field of the Invention

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a utensil. More specifically, embodiments of the invention relate to a fork that includes one or more tines that are extend and are arranged in one or more directions.

2. The Relevant Technology

A conventional fork often includes tines. However, the tines are typically similarly shaped and usually all extend in the same direction and that the same curve. Such a fork often has difficulty is picking certain types of food, such as spaghetti.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In order to describe the manner in which the advantages and features of the invention can be obtained, a more particular description of embodiments of the invention will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered to be limiting of its scope, embodiments of the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a fork that includes a curved tine;

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a fork that includes a curved tine and a center tine;

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a fork that includes laterally directed tines that stem from a central tine;

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a fork that includes tines with one or more nodules formed thereon; and

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a fork that includes another tine arrangement.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the invention relate to utensils. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to utensils such as forks. A conventional fork includes one or more tines. However, the tines are usually very similar in form and are arranged in the same shape. Embodiments of the invention relate to forks that include tines that are may of different shapes and that may extend in different directions.

Embodiments of the invention relate to a fork that is configured to facilitate eating foods such as, by way of example, spaghetti. In contrast to a conventional fork, embodiments of the invention can suppress spaghetti or noodles from slipping off of the tines and that are configured to more easily engage a food such as noodles. The end members (the tine arrangements) of the forks disclosed herein allow the forks to better grab and hold foods such as noodles or other materials. Embodiments of the invention can also be sized. A fork intended for use by a child, for example, may be a smaller version of an adult fork. The figures discussed herein may or may not be to scale. Larger forks may be formed for use in food preparation rather than food consumption.

FIGS. 1-5 illustrate examples of forks. The forks illustrated in FIGS. 1-5 include end portions with different configurations. The end portion may include one or more tines that are arranged in at least two directions. For example, the tines may be arranged horizontally and/or vertically and/or at angles (including angles that are not perpendicular) with respect to other tines. The tines of any given fork may be of different lengths, of different widths, of different cross-sectional areas and/or shapes. The tines may have rounded, blunt, or sharpened tips. Tines may be provided that branch from other tines. Some of the times may be connected to each other.

A middle portion transitions the handle of the forks to the end members. The handles and middle portions can have various shapes and configurations. The middle portion and end portion may have a curved shape similar to a conventional fork.

FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a fork. The fork 100 includes a handle 102, an end member 104 and a middle portion 106 that connects the handle 102 with the end member 104. The end portion 104 includes a single tine 112. In this example, the tine 112 has a serpentine shape with first portions 108 and second portions 110. The number or undulations in the end portion 104 may vary and the distance between adjacent portions 108 can be constant or different. The tine 112 terminates in a tip 114. The tip 114 may be rounded or pointed. The portions 108 and 110 are examples of partial tines in one example. The spaces between the first portions 108 may be sized such that a food such as spaghetti can be accommodated therein. If the fork is inserted into spaghetti and twisted, the tine 112 allows the fork to hold the spaghetti. One of skill in the art can appreciate that other pastas and other foods may be picked up with embodiments of the invention discussed herein. In one example, the end portion 108 may be configured with additional tines that are shorter such that a food item may be stabbed if necessary.

In this example, the portions 110 extend in a first direction and the portions 108 are arranged in a second direction that is transverse or orthogonal to the first direction. However, the portions 110 and the portions 108 may intersect non-orthogonally. The arrangement of the tine 112 is essentially square shaped or rectangular. However other arrangements including triangular, oval, or the like are contemplated. In addition, sides of the tine 112 may be jagged, have small bumps, or the like, to facilitate holding the food. The tine 112 may have a constant cross section or have a cross section that tapers gradually from the middle portion 106 to the tip 114. The members 108 may have different lengths in the second direction.

The corners 116 of the tine may be sharp or rounded. The body of the fork 100 in the first direction may have a non-linear shape (e.g., shaped like a conventional fork) as illustrated by the side view 118. The overall length direction of a fork, such as illustrated in FIG. 1, may have wave form. The wave form of the body, however, may be distinct from the directions of the tines themselves.

FIG. 2 illustrates another example of a fork 200. The fork 200 is similar to the fork 100 and includes a serpentine tine 212. The fork 200 also includes a center tine 203 that extends from the middle portion 204 and that intersects the portions 208. The tine 208 terminates in the portion 214. The tine 208 could extend through the portion 214, however. As the end member 206 extends from the middle portion, the width may taper and become smaller. The fork 100 and other examples discussed herein may be similarly configured. In addition, the tines 214 and 208 may be integrally formed.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a fork 300. The fork 300 includes a handle 302, a middle potion 304 and an end member 306. In this example, the end member 306 includes a central tine 310 with second, shorter tines 308 extending laterally from both sides of the tine 310. In another example, the fork 300 may include multiple central tines 310. In this case, the inner space between the central tines may not have any tines while the tines 308 extend from the outer sides of the central tines 310. The ends of the tines 308 and/or the tine 310 may be sharp, blunt, or rounded, by way of example. The width of the end member 306 may taper and become smaller as the end member 306 extends from the middle portion 304 to the tip 312 of the tine 310. A width of a gap 314, which is between adjacent tines 308, may be sized to accommodate certain foods. A typical noodle, for example, may fit in the gap 314. The gap 314 may be wider than a typical noodle, however.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a fork 400. The fork 400 includes a handle 402 a middle portion 404 and an end member 406. The end member 406 includes tines 408, 414, 416, and 412. Nodules 419 (considered to be a type of tine as used herein) are disposed at certain intervals on the tine 412 and on the tine 408. The tines 414 and 416 are connected by tines 418. In one example, however, none of the tines extending in a lengthwise direction of the fork are connected by the nodules.

In one example, the nodules 410 and the tines 418 have a thickness that is different from the thickness of the tines 408, 412, 414, and 416 as illustrated in the side view 420. The tines 418 are arranged orthogonally or transversely to the tines 414 and 16. In one example, the tines 408 and 414 and the tines 416 and 408 could be connected by tines 418 and no nodules 410 would be present. In this example, the tines 418 could be at different locations and form a step arrangement in a direction towards the handle 402. By having a fork, whose tines have different thicknesses (the tines 418 and/or the nodules 410 may be thicker than the tines 408, 412, 414, and 416), food can be acquired and held on the end portion 406 with more efficiency.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a fork 500. The fork 500 includes a handle 502, a middle portion 504, and an end member 506. The end member 506 includes tines 510 and tines 508. In this example, there are four of the tines 510 (although the fork could include more or less). In this example, the tines 508 connect the top two tines 510 and additional tines 508 connect the bottom two tines 510. An end 512 of the tines 508 extends outside of the outer tines 510. The ends 512 provide a ledge that can hold, by way of example, noodles.

Embodiments of the forks shown in FIGS. 1-5 includes features that can be incorporated together. Many of the aspects of the forks in FIGS. 1-5 can be incorporated into other of the forks. For example, the tines 508 may be thicker than the tines 510 in one example. In addition, the features of the various tines discussed herein may not be applied to all similar tines. For example, the fork 510 may be configured with 3 of the tines 508 on one side of the end member 506 and 2 of the tines 508 on the other side of the end member. Further, the intersection of the tines 508 and the outer tines 510 may be thicker than the rest of the end member 506.

In one example, FIG. 1 shows a single tine. However, a fork may be provided with two or more serpentine tines of FIG. 1. In this case, the width would be shorter. Tines extending laterally may not be pointed to avoid scraping or cutting a person's mouth. Further, to the extent tines extend upward or downward, the height not so much as to cause discomfort in using the fork. In other examples, the tine may exhibit symmetry. Other examples may not include symmetry. For example, left tines may be configured differently from the right tines.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A fork comprising: a body that includes: a handle a middle portion; and an end portion, wherein the end portion includes a first tine arranged in a first direction and a second tine arranged in a second direction that crosses the first direction.
 2. The fork of claim 1, where the first tine extends in a lengthwise direction of the body and wherein the second tine includes portions that extend from a body of the first tine.
 3. The fork of claim 1, wherein the second tine comprises a plurality of second tines that extend from a body of the first tine, wherein the plurality of second tines are each separated by a space in the first direction.
 4. The fork of claim 3, wherein the space is sized to accommodate a noodle.
 5. The fork of claim 1, wherein the second tine comprises a nodule formed on the first tine and wherein the first tine comprises a plurality of similarly arranged tines that extend in the first direction.
 6. A fork comprising: a body that includes: a handle a middle portion; and an end portion, wherein the end portion includes a first tine arranged in a serpentine shape.
 7. The fork of claim 6, wherein an end portion of the first tine extends in a second direction that is transverse to a lengthwise direction of the body.
 8. The fork of claim 6, wherein the end portion of the first tine is blunted.
 9. The fork of claim 6, wherein the first tine includes multiple turns such that the tine includes one or more portions extending in a first direction and one or more portions extending in a second direction. 